Erap could have done a Reagan

During his presidency, Joseph Estrada often told me how he idolized Ronald Reagan. In objective hindsight, the careers of both men had uncanny similarities. Both men entered the movies and became matinee idols, although Erap claimed that he won more awards than Reagan. Not many know that Reagan had his first screen test in 1937, the year Joseph Estrada was born. Reagan became president of the Screen Actors Guild while Erap was the founder and president of the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (MOWELFUND).

In 1966, Reagan became Governor of California and was re-elected in 1970. Estrada first ran for Mayor of San Juan in 1968 and stayed in office until 1986. They were elected president with large margins over their rivals. More important, both men had the capacity to feel strongly, to empathize.Joseph Estrada could master the art of playing President. He could be presidential on many occasions. Former Foreign Affairs Sec. Jun Siazon was the man tasked to guide the President in dealing with heads of state. When he coached Estrada during meetings, Jun Siazon would recount how impressed he was that Estrada could absorb the talking points and could even lip-read him during meetings. In fact, during his first international appearance in Singapore at the 1998 East Asia Economic Summit sponsored by the World Economic Forum, everyone including then US Amb. Thomas Hubbard who happened to be there was so anxious before Erap delivered his keynote speech. Fortunately, Estrada performed so well that even his harshest critics at the time, the Philippine media, were impressed by the delivery and substance of his speech. He even received standing ovations for his answers on the relevance of ASEAN, currency controls, and the treatment of the then-controversial Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. So impressive was his performance that one newspaper even graded him summa cum laude. In effect, he was turning out to be a Great Communicator just like Ronald Reagan. In fact, Reagan was heard to have said at one point during his presidency, "How can anyone who hasn’t been an actor do well in this job?" This only showed how he felt strongly about his experience as an actor that led to his becoming the Great Communicator. But the similarities between Reagan and Estrada end there.

Reagan’s advisers were apprehensive about his appearance before the 1983 G-7 summit in Williamsburg, Virginia. It was his first time to chair the group and he was expected to steer the discussion on intricate issues concerning world economics and politics. The world press, doubtful about Reagan’s ability to grasp world issues, would be watching closely to see whether he could hold his own against the other leaders like Mitterrand, Thatcher, and Kohl. Much to everyone’s surprise, Reagan appeared relaxed and focused by amiably steering the flow of conversation easily and by staying close to issues that he wanted to pursue. It was an excellent performance that clearly impressed the other leaders, as well as the legions of press people. Reagan’s secret: He never mistook the trees for the forest. He just focused on the main goals that he wanted to accomplish.

Ronald Reagan was one of the best US Presidents of the 20th Century. Both the President and Mrs. Nancy Reagan brought glamour and elegance back to the White House. But unfortunately for Erap Estrada, he inadvertently brought questionable characters to Malacañang. Influenced by his "midnight cabinet", they eventually brought him down, leading to his exit from the Palace.

Nevertheless, Joseph Estrada could have been a good president because he really had charisma with a capital C. Like Reagan, he could blur the line between illusion and reality. He could communicate with different kinds of people. The poor idolized him because they equated his big-screen roles to real-life hopes. At the same time, he was able to convince the elite. In small, intimate dinners, top businessmen who were not really for him were drawn to his charisma when he showed interest in their concerns. He could have been the perfect bridge for the poor and the rich. He came from an upper middle-class family but he had great rapport with the poor. He had savvy and streetsmarts because he played and fought with neighborhood toughies, often getting into brawls to defend an underdog friend. And maybe that’s the reason why his friend, Fernando Poe, Jr., couldn’t fill the shoes of the multi-faceted Joseph Estrada. In the end, President Estrada was a missed opportunity in uniting Filipinos from all walks of life.

In contrast, Reagan is credited not only for winning the Cold War, but more importantly, for bringing back confidence to a nation that was previously reeling from economic recession and the humiliating hostage crisis in Iran.

In the first year of his term, unemployment was more than 10 percent, the economy had slid into recession, OPEC had the country by the throat, and American industry seemed unable to compete with Asian competitors. But three years into his first term, he was able to curb inflation, increase employment, revive the stock market, and strengthen national defense. So buoyant were the sentiments in America that Reagan’s 1984 re-election campaign ads had the theme "It’s morning again in America." And nothing could have been truer for the man who served as the mirror of the nation.

The Supreme Optimist promised to restore the "great, confident roar of American progress and growth and optimism" and handily won over former Vice-President Walter Mondale "by a landscape", to borrow a phrase from Joseph Estrada.

Watching the funeral rites on TV yesterday – hearing the military band play "Hail to the Chief", the sight of tens of thousands of Americans mourning, world leaders paying tribute, and the former President’s last trip aboard

Air Force One for the sunset burial at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California – one couldn’t help but be moved to tears. Undoubtedly, these vivid images show us how President Reagan brought honor to his name and his country. With his faith, determination, and optimism, he gave hope and pride to many Americans at a time when they felt hopeless and humiliated.

He succeeded in making them proud to be Americans once again. It was such an infectious hope that even the world believed in it. In the end, what really matters in life is not wealth, power or fame but the legacy one leaves behind that can make a nation proud of its leader. Reagan did this for America. We can only hope the president of this country will one day do the same.

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